CHARENTON-LE-PONT, France—Essilor will unveil the two-year clinical trial results of Stellest, its proprietary spectacle lens that is designed to control myopia. The two-year results demonstrate that Essilor Stellest lenses slow down myopia progression by 67 percent on average, when compared to single vision lenses, when worn at least 12 hours a day, Essilor said. The presentation of this research entitled “Myopia control with spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets: a 2-year randomized clinical trial”, will be delivered at the annual meeting of the ARVO, on May 6, 2021, by Bao Jinhua, associate professor at Wenzhou Medical University, China.

In 2018, Essilor’s research and development team initiated a three-year, state-of-the-art clinical trial on 167 myopic children in its joint research and development center shared with key partner, the Wenzhou Medical University, in China. The results of this study demonstrate compelling evidence that Stellest lenses are one of the most effective options available for slowing down myopia progression in children today, according to Essilor. Key outcomes include:

● After two years, children wearing Essilor Stellest lenses saved 0.99 diopters of myopia degree on average (67 percent slow-down in myopia progression on average), compared to single vision lenses, when worn 12 hours or more per day every day.
● After the first year, the eye growth of 9 out of 10 children wearing Essilor Stellest lenses was similar or slower than non-myopic children.
● Two out of three children who wore Essilor Stellest lenses did not need a prescription change after the first year.
● 100 percent of children wearing Essilor Stellest lenses had clear vision, 100 percent of children adapted to their new lenses within a week; 91 percent of children fully adapted within three days; and 94 percent of children felt comfortable with Essilor Stellest lenses, demonstrating that Essilor Stellest lenses were comfortable, and easy to adapt for children.

Norbert Gorny, co-chief operating officer, Essilor International commented, “With such impressive results, Essilor’s Stellest lenses will truly be a catalyst to stem myopia progression and to help children, who continue to be at risk of sight-threatening eye conditions associated with myopia. Essilor is proud to be at the forefront of myopia management and we will continue to be focused on bringing such innovative advances to move the needle on the fight against myopia.”

Grita Loebsack, group chief marketing officer, Essilor International, noted that Stellest’s successful release in China in June 2020, then in Russia and Singapore, was marked by “extremely positive feedback from parents, children and eyecare practitioners.” She said Essilor plans to offer the lens to children in other countries.

In addition to innovation and research, Essilor is committed to strengthening awareness and education of myopia with governments, healthcare and eyecare professionals, and the wider public. The company pledged its support for the publication of International Myopia Institute’s landmark white papers in 2019, and is also a member of the industry-wide Global Myopia Awareness Coalition to raise awareness of myopia. Essilor has also recently partnered with leading international myopia educational company, Myopia Profile, to jointly empower eyecare practitioners with clinical knowledge, skills and practice in managing childhood myopia.